Scientists and chemists from 18 countries gathered in Malta for the third scientific meeting on Supramolecular Chemistry in Water earlier this month at the University of Malta Valletta Campus.

The conference commenced with a presentation by Prof. Kay Severin of the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland, on the principles of constructing chemosensors for detecting small chemical species such as lithium ions and caffeine. A plenary lecture was given by Prof. David K. Smith of the University of York, UK, on nano-sized self-assembled arrays for binding DNA and heparin, a common blood thinner. The final plenary lecture was presented by Felix Müller of Evonik Industries on the practical applications and commercial successes of using detergents for removing bad odours in laundry and in the air. 

During the conference over 25 oral communications and 28 posters were presented including five research projects from the University of Malta students. The local organising commitee consisted of the host academic Dr David Magri, a senior lecturer in the Department of Chemistry, and the staff of the Conference Support Unit at the University of Malta under the coordination of Lucienne Bugeja. The scientific programme was organised by a consortium of researchers within COST Action CM1005.  There were over 90 participants in attendance.